Effect of Hormonal Treatment on Fertility in Dairy Cows with Dystocia or Retained Fetal Membranes at Parturition

¹ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0136

Holstein cows (n = 445) that had experienced dystocia, retained fetal membrane, or both at parturition were used to determine the effects of GnRH, PGF₂ or both on various reproductive measurements. Cows affected with these conditions were assigned randomly to each of four treatment groups. One group of cows was untreated, and three groups received GnRH once at 12 d postpartum, or GnRH at 12 plus PGF₂ at 26 d postpartum, or PGF₂, given at 12 and 26 d postpartum. Another group of 191 cows that calved normally were untreated. Conception rate after first AI was higher for cows treated with PGF₂, at 12 and 26 d postpartum. Cows affected with dystocia, retained fetal membranes, or both and treated early postpartum with GnRH alone or followed 14 d later with PGF₂, did not have improved reproductive performance. Cows calving during the summer months of June through September experienced a reduction in the reproductive traits examined.

Key Words: dystocia • retained fetal membranes • prostaglandin F₂ • gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Submitted on January 24, 1994
Accepted on April 11, 1994

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